Genesis 23
1 And the life of Sarrha was an hundred and twenty-seven years.
Sarah lived to be 127,
2 And Sarrha died in the city of Arboc, which is in the valley, this is Chebron in the land of Chanaan; and Abraam came to lament for Sarrha and to mourn.
and then she died at Kiriath-arba (or Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in to mourn her death and to weep over her.
3 And Abraam stood up from before his dead; and Abraam spoke to the sons of Chet, saying,
Then Abraham got up from beside his wife's body and went to talk with the leaders of the Hittites.
4 I am a sojourner and a stranger among you, give me therefore possession of a burying-place among you, and I will bury my dead away from me.
“I am a foreigner, a stranger living among you,” he said. “Please let me buy a burial site so I can bury my dead wife.”
5 And the sons of Chet answered to Abraam, saying, Not so, Sir,
The Hittites answered Abraham, telling him,
6 but hear us; you are in the midst of us a king from God; bury your dead in our choice sepulchres, for not one of us will by any means withhold his sepulchre from you, so that you should not bury your dead there.
“Listen, my lord, you are a highly-respected prince among us. Choose the very best of our burial sites to bury your dead. None of us will say no to you.”
7 And Abraam rose up and did obeisance to the people of the land, to the sons of Chet.
Abraham got up and bowed low before the Hittites, the local people,
8 And Abraam spoke to them, saying, If you have it in your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me, and speak for me to Ephron the son Saar.
and said to them, “If you agree to help me bury my dead, listen to my proposal. Could you please ask Ephron, son of Zohar,
9 And let him give me the double cave which he has, which is in a part of his field, let him give it me for the money it is worth for possession of a burying-place among you.
to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, down at the end of his field. I'm willing to pay him the full price here in your presence so I can have my own burial site.”
10 Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Chet, and Ephron the Chettite answered Abraam and spoke in the hearing of the sons of Chet, and of all who entered the city, saying,
Ephron the Hittite was sitting there among his people. He replied to Abraham in the presence of the Hittites who were there at the town gate.
11 Attend to me, my lord, and hear me, I give to you the field and the cave which is in it; I have given it you before all my country men; bury your dead.
“No, my lord,” he said. “Please listen to me. I give you the field and the cave that is there. I give it to you and my people are my witnesses. Please go and bury your dead.”
12 And Abraam did obeisance before the people of the land.
Abraham bowed low before the local people,
13 And he said in the ears of Ephron before the people of the land, Since you are on my side, hear me; take the price of the field from me, and I will bury my dead there.
and said to Ephron so everyone could hear, “Please listen to me. I will pay the price for the field. Take the money and let me go and bury my dead there.”
14 But Ephron answered Abraam, saying,
Ephron replied to Abraham, telling him,
15 Nay, my lord, I have heard indeed, the land [is worth] four hundred silver didrachmas, but what can this be between me and you? nay, do you bury your dead.
“My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth four hundred pieces of silver. But what's that between us? Go and bury your dead.”
16 And Abraam listened to Ephron, and Abraam rendered to Ephron the money, which he mentioned in the ears of the sons of Chet, four hundred didrachmas of silver approved with merchants.
Abraham accepted Ephron's offer. Abraham weighed out and gave to Ephron the four hundred pieces of silver he'd mentioned, using the standard weights used by merchants, and with the Hittites acting as witnesses.
17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Double Cave, which is opposite Mambre, the field and the cave, which was in it, and every tree which was in the field, and whatever is in its borders round about, were made sure in its borders round about, were made sure
So the property was legally transferred. It comprised Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre, both the field and the cave there, as well as all the trees in the field, and all the area up to the existing boundaries.
18 to Abraam for a possession, before the sons of Chet, and all that entered into the city.
This all became Abraham's property, and the transaction was witnessed by the Hittites who were there at the town gate.
19 After this Abraam buried Sarrha his wife in the Double Cave of the field, which is opposite Mambre, this is Chebron in the land of Chanaan.
Then Abraham went and buried Sarah his wife in the cave in the field at Machpelah near Mamre (or Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
20 So the field and the cave which was in it were made sure to Abraam for possession of a burying place, by the sons of Chet.
Ownership of the field and the cave there was transferred from the Hittites to Abraham to serve as his burial place.
